Roger Williams - 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Rmst)
Product Information
Track List: 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Rmst)
- Autumn LeavesDownload & Buy
- Almost ParadiseDownload & Buy
- TillDownload & Buy
- Near YouDownload & Buy
- Yellow BirdDownload & Buy
- MariaDownload & Buy
- Softly As I Leave YouDownload & Buy
- CumanaDownload & Buy
- Lara's Theme [From Dr. Zhivago]Download & Buy
- Born FreeDownload & Buy
- Impossible DreamDownload & Buy
- Somewhere in TimeDownload & Buy
More Roger Williams CDs and Albums
Album Details: 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Rmst)
- Release Date:
- 03/09/2004
- Label:
- Geffen Records
- UPC:
- 602498616185
User Reviews: 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Rmst)
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Smooth, easy and dramatic piano
, March 20, 2004
read all (1) user reviews for 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Rmst)
Pro Reviews: 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Rmst)
| EXPERT RATING: From AMG Reviews 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection: The Best of Roger Williams features a decent overview of the pianist's easy listening instrumental tunes recorded in the '50s and '60s. The 12 tracks include his first number one hit, "Autumn Leaves," and the Top Ten hits "Near You" and "Born Free." Both the collector and casual listener will be pleased with the choice of material and remastered sound. - Al Campbell, All Music Guide |
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Roger Williams Biography
Pianist Roger Williams' (born Louis Weertz) sweeping, sparkling arpeggios, showy technique, and gentle, easy listening arrangements made him one of the most popular pop instrumentalists of the late '50s and '60s. Like many other easy listening musici...Full Roger Williams Biography
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-- ©2008 All Media Guide, LLC
Pros: -
Cons: -
Anyone who's spent time combing thrift-store record bins will recognize Roger Williams' name, if not his music. Williams made his mark on the charts as an easy listening pianist with a string of instrumental hits that spanned the rock 'n' roll years of the late 50s and early 60s. His best-known release, "Autumn Leaves," leads off this 12-track collection with atmospheric piano arpeggios that echo the flutter of falling foliage.
Williams second hit, "Almost Paradise," was borrowed from the pen of Buddy Holly producer Norman Petty, and sets dramatic chording against a backing chorus and full orchestration. Williams also worked some of the same songbooks as exotica musicians like Martin Denny, but with a more lush sound. His arrangement of "Yellow Bird" is playful, with strings and bongos supporting Williams' piano runs, but doesn't capture the island breeze of Arthur Lyman's then-contemporary hit.
Like others in the piano instrumental trade (notably, Ferrante & Teicher), Williams also had success with stage and movie themes. His renditions of the title theme to "Born Free," West Side Story's "Maria," Dr. Zhivago's "Lara's Theme," and Man of La Mancha's "The Impossible Dream" kept his name on the pop and adult contemporary charts throughout the. Williams continued to produce vital movie music into the 1980s, as evidenced by his soundtrack performance of John Barry's title song to "Somewhere in Time."
Late-90s cocktail culture made lounge stars of Martin Denny, Les Baxter, and others, while Roger Williams seems to have been mostly overlooked. Geffen's collection provides a concise introduction to his playing that combines jazz, classical and pop sounds into a sometimes showy, but quite appealing blend. ...